Tēna koutou e te iwi,

I had the pleasure of attending Ra Whakangahau last Friday and watching our school perform. They were outstanding and a real credit to our school. I know hours of work and practices go into this so a big thank you to the team of teachers and whānau who made this possible. To see a video of their performance scroll down to News and Events.

I am really looking forward to our Friends of the School, Christmas Picnic. Keep the 30 November 3:30-5:30pm free. This evening is lots of fun and relaxing, bring along the whole whānau.

It is that time of the year again when staff are busy planning for 2024. Class lists are being drafted and teaching teams organised. Due to staff leaving and or studying we have made some staffing changes. I would like to congratulate the following staff who are taking up acting leadership roles for the 2024 year:

• Sue Taylor will be Acting Deputy Principal and continue her Mangatawa Team Leader role
• Kirsty McDonald Acting Team Leader of Hikurangi
• Sheree McNaught Acting Team Leader of Hopukiore
• Congratulations to Tania Solomona who has won a 32 week study award in 2024. 
• Janet Fletcher will be sadly leaving us, she is moving down the road to work at Te Manawa o Papamoa. 

Also we are holding our Identity Hui on Tuesday, 21 November 2023 at 3.30 in the Hall. A yummy afternoon tea and sausage sizzle will be provided. All attendees go in the draw to win a grocery hamper which will be chosen and presented, in person, at the end of the hui.

Thanks to you all we raised a healthy $373 for the Gumboot Friday appeal.  This money is invaluable in providing mental health support.

Lastly a cheeky request, if anyone has Kawakawa leaves they could donate to Hopukiore for their kawakawa balm production, could you please deliver to rūma 21 on Monday, 20 November?  

Mā te wā,

Shelley Craig, Acting Principal

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Tuesday, 21 November - School Identity Community Hui - 3.30pm

Monday, 27 November - Mauao Tournament -Y6(5)

Thursday, 30 November - Christmas Picnic 2023

Friday, 8 December - Te Rā Tuku Taonga (Prizegiving)

Monday, 11 December - Year 6 Graduation - 5 - 6.30pm

Friday, 15 December - Last Day  of School - finish at 12.30

Click here for 2023 and 2024 Term Dates

Please remember to enrol your preschoolers as early as you can. This helps us to get prepared for their arrival.

To enrol you can click this link to the online application form or come into the office for an application pack.

For more information on enrolment check out our website www.arataki.school.nz

In this issue:

• Ka Ora, Ka Ako - Healthy School Lunches
• News and Events
• From the Sports Desk
• Extra-Curriculars @ Arataki
• After School Care/Program
• Community Notices
• Holiday Activities
• Pre Loved Uniforms
• Report an Absence

Ka Ora, Ka Ako

HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES

Welcome to our Ka Ora, Ka Ako, Healthy School Lunches Programme section of our school newsletter, where we aim to share photos, information and updates with what's happening.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Rā Whakangahau 2023

Tau kē! Check out the full performance from the Rā Whakangahau last Friday.

Tēnei te tuku mihi nui ki a Whaea Davidia rātou, ko Whaea Te Owai, ko ngā kaiako me ngā mātua mā. He rau ringa e oti ai.

Nei te reo rāhiri e mihi ana ki ngā tamariki hoki mo tā rātou haka! Te tū kaha, te tū maia, te tū whakahi!

Kmart Wishing Tree

Kopukairoa were invited to perform at the opening of the Kmart Wishing Tree at Bayfair on Tuesday, 14 November.  Arataki School have been performing at the opening for the last 8 years. We are proud to represent our kura in the community, especially for such a worthy initiative.

On Thursday 2nd November we had our second  Arataki School Through The Years community event.  Again, it was great to come together and share stories. At each event we have been very fortunate to have founding students share their memories. 

At this hui we heard about Kaniera Street - about how close the families were, playing together, sharing homes, and how the school just felt like an extension of the street.  

One story I found particularly interesting was the house groups.  How the houses - coloured red, blue, yellow and green, were named after birds and attributed values and characteristics of these manu, along with proverbs.  When I arrived only the colours remained and then later we halted using houses. We would love to know more about the manu, the traits and the  proverbs!

ATK Here Everyday

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

Ki o Rahi tournament was a fantastic day out for our students, this inaugural tournament was played with fun and participation in mind. We played four games, won one, had some close tussles and learned a whole lot. Fast-paced thinking was needed and happy to see all the students enjoying themselves on a less than settled day weather wise.

EXTRA CURRICULARS 

@ ATK

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

COMMUNITY NOTICES

TripleP Parenting Workshops

Triple P are running free workshops on a range of topics in the Mount.  Check out the topics and dates

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Pre Loved Uniforms

Needing a few pieces of uniform.  Come and see our pre-loved uniforms at the school office. 

Get ready for the colder weather.  We have a stack of pre-loved jumpers.

Have your tamariki grown out of their uniforms?

Please consider donating them back to the kura.  These uniform donations are:

• sold to our whanau for donations of $5. The money raised is used for resources for our classrooms. 
• used for our tamariki who may need them.

These donations are gratefully received at the school office.

Reporting an Absence

Does your child need to stay home today?

To let us know about any absences, please:

Call our absence line (07) 575 3497 select option 1.

Text 022 565 0021.

Email office@arataki.school.nz.

Complete our online form

Please include your:

• child's name,
• room number, 
• how long they will be away and the
• reason for your child's absence.